Fortnightly or fractionated weekly docetaxel–cisplatin–5‐FU as first‐line treatment in advanced gastric and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma: The randomized phase II DoGE study

BACKGROUND: While docetaxel/cisplatin/5‐fluorouracil (DCF) outperforms CF in first‐line gastric adenocarcinoma, toxicity remains an issue. METHODS: This multicenter phase II trial randomized chemonaïve metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma patients to fractionated weekly DCF (D 40 mg/m(2), C 35 mg/m², F 1800 mg/m² over 24 h, on days 1 and 8 every 3 weeks, arm (1) or fortnightly DCF (D 50 mg/m(2), C 50 mg/m², F 2000 mg/m² over 48 h every 2 weeks, arm (2). Prophylactic granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor (G‐CSF) was not allowed. The primary endpoint was the rate of febrile neutropenia within the first six treatment weeks (early FN). RESULTS: A total of 106 eligible patients were recruited. The early and overall FN rates were 9.5% and 17% in arm 1, respectively, and 5.9% and 8% in arm 2, respectively. Grade ≥3 toxicities occurred in 81% of patients in arm 1 and 90% of patients in arm 2, the most common being neutropenia (33% vs. 61%), fatigue (27% vs. 25%), vomiting (21% vs. 12%), anorexia (19% vs. 18%), and diarrhea (17% vs. 10%). Median progression‐free survival and overall survival were 5.1 (95% CI, 3.2–6.5) and 8.2 months (95% CI, 6.0–14.5), respectively, in arm 1 and 5.2 (95% CI, 3.0–6.9) and 11.9 months (95% CI, 7.4–15.9), respectively, in arm 2. CONCLUSIONS: Fractionated weekly and fortnightly DCF regimens are associated with a low risk of early FN, and a better hematological toxicity profile as compared to historical DCF without compromising efficacy. Both regimens offer greater convenience removing the need for systematic use of prophylactic G‐CSF.